Self-holding nut



Patented Nov. l0, 193i )Wever summit, on HAs'rINes UPON HUDSON, NEwYonx SELF-EODING NUT Application led. March 17, 1928.` Serial No. 262,881.

So called self-locking nuts have been proposed in many different forms with spring elements to lock or hold the nut. All of them have offered'some objection rendering them 6 unsuitable for general use. Among the outstanding objections may be noted excessive initial cost, diiiiculty of application to nuts of substantially standard form, unsuitability for reuse after the rst application of the nut to a bolt, and undependability in service. The present invention has for its object 'to provide, in association with a nut of standard formfsimple and inexpensive devices which shall be free from the objections just stated.

It sometimes happens in cutting threads on r bolts that some irregularity develops, such as differences in diameter at different sections, usually the section at the end of the bolt being of smaller diameter than a section further inward. This sometimes results in the .bolt offering less-resistance at the end and more the further on it is threaded. Further diiiculty arises when \machines are taken apart and the various nuts confused, causing different nuts and bolts to be used together and a resulting variation in the relative holding` abilities. A nut constructedin accordance with tliis 'invention will have a holding device which expands or contracts to accom- `modate variations of threads as noted above, without a noticeable diiierence inits holding eiect.

In accordance with the invention, it is proposed to associate operatively with a nut of diameter of the coil, the stiffness ofthe spring and the number of convolutions all bein so proportioned as to create for a bolt of given diameter a predetermined contractile force, whereby movement of the nut on the bolt is resisted frictionall up to but not beyond a desired degree. Vlihat may be termed the normal contractile force is augmented substantially Whenever a force is applied to the nut tending to move it on the bolt, this condition being obtained by so 'associating the spring with the nut as to result in a coiling action of the spring on the bolt, when the nut is turned in one direction or another or, 1f so provided for, in either direction. By permitting a predetermined but limited relative displacement of the nut with respect to the coil, this coiling action may be accomplished to any predetermined desired degree, whereupon further movement will prevent any further increase of Another object of the invention is to provide in al self-holding device of the character indicated, a relatively soft metal gripping surface to protect thethreads of the bolt, when the nut is screwed on, said soft metal being interposed .operatively between the spring proper and the threads of the bolt.

I n practice, 'the material encasing the sprlng and engaging the threads of the bolt the holding force.

is slightly softer than the material of the bolt threads, that is,v suiiiciently hard to prevent cutting threads in the spring, and at the same time not hard enough to damage the bolt threads.- y

The nut may be used on bolts with full or undersized threads without in any way lesseningor impairing the full clamping capacity of the holding mechanism, because the spring is capable of expanding'or .contracting to hold the bolt, regardless of the accuracy of the threads formed thereon. Still another Vobject of the invention is to provide in a device of the character described means forprotecting the threads and the self-holding mechanism against direct mechanical injury when the nut is 'turned on the thread and also against foreign matter and weather, as through an enclosure carried directly .with the nut and within which all operative parts are embodied.

Still another object of the invention is to l' relationship may be insured by embodying.

one or all of the following characteristics in the structure: the diameter or width of *he cross section of the spring may be greater than the distance between threads on the bolts, the-pitch of the spring coils may be different from the pitch of the threads on the bolt, the spri ng may be confined longitudinally in such manner that the coils are prevented from seating themselves in the threads, or the ,coils may be held atan angle to the threads so as not to conform thereto and Wound closely together and held against separation. With such a relationship insured between the bolt and the holding spring it becomes of importance to provide the end coil of the spring along its inner circumference with an inclination so that the edges of thel thread of the bolt may be guided with certainty into the coil when the bolt and nut are threaded together and without danger of axial displacement of the spring. The provision of such an inclination on the entering coil is particularly important where, as in the present invention, the coil is normallyof less diameter than the bolt and adapted to be expanded by entry of the bolt thereinto to insure a contractive effort by the spring when the parts are assembled.

Other objects of the invention have to do with considerations of simplicity of design, whereby manufacture with minimum' alteration of standard nuts is accomplished.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings illustrating several embodiments of the improvements and in which Fig. 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing the improved nut as applied to a bolt of standard form now in use on fish plates of the New York Central lines.

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figure l, but showing the nut and associated parts in section and just before application of thenut to the bolt.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through the cap indicated on Figure 3 at line 4-4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

1g. 5 showing the nut fully applied to the bolt.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 and taken on line 6-6 at Figure 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows and indicating particularly the expansion of the coil when on the bolt with capacity for relative movement between the nut and the coil. i

As will be clear as the description proceeds, the invention is not limited to the type of nut is a view similar to Figure 3, butV with which it is associated, nor to the type of bolt to which such a nut is to be applied. To emphasize the thoroughly practical nature of the improvements, however, there has been illustrated in the drawings a bolt a which is of the type. now in use by the New Y'ork Central lines and a nut b which is of the type usually associated therewith, but modified in some slight and inexpensive respects for application of the invention thereto in a very advantageous way. In the embodiments shown in Figures 1-6, the nut illustrated is shown as having its outer end under cut peripherally, as indicated at b to permit the convenientapplication thereto of a cap b2 to excludeforeign matter and the weather from the bolt, this cap being preferably placed directly onto the shoulder b. With this slight and inexpensive modification of the nut b no other changes from its standard form are required for incorporation of the improve` ments. In the cap b2 is placed, before the cap is applied to the nut, a coil spring indicated generally at c which, in the preferred form, includes a hardened spring element c' which is encased in a relatively soft metal jacket c2. The cap b2 constitutes a casing to receive and hold thespring longitudinally and axially in proper operative relation to the nut and bolt and facilitate initial assembly with the coil axially disposed. The spring c is so coiled as to have an inside diameter normally a little less than that of the bolt a to which the nut is applied. The

ends of the spring, whichare indicated at c3A 04, are preferably opposed so as to create, with respect to the threaded bolt, the effect of leading and following coils. By making A the cross-section of the spring cylindrical and expanding the end c4 tangentially, it will be evident from Figure-3 that a curved, daring surface is presented to the leading thread on the bolt a, when the nut is screwed onto the bolt so that the thread may engage the inner surface of theleading coil of the spring with a gradual but steadily increasing approach, such thread working its way along the inner curve of the spring until it reaches the smallest diameter of the coil. This vrelationship precludes the possibility of the threaded bolt exerting substantial pressure on the spring in other directions. Rotation of the nut on the bolt is accompanied by simultaneous rotation of the spring on the bolt, the spring being held against relative rotation with respect to the nut, while having capacity for very slight dispalcement with respect thereto at either one end or thevother, or both.

In the form shown in Figures 1-6, the cap y b2 is square in cross section, so the ends c3 c* of the coil spring engage the sides of the cap when the nut is rotated in one direction or the other, respectively. As shown inFigure 6, when the coil spring is forced onto the bolt so as to have its internal diameter increased,

the ends c c* `of the coil spring are retracted course, determined by all of the factors involved in the spring design and the force with which it en ages the bolt a depends further on the num er of coils, their diameter and other factors in design. The resistance offered to threading of the nut onto the bolt and oi the bolt may be made as great or as little as desired, within limits, the necessary condition which this invention contemplates being that when the nut is on the bolt, it will. not move in either direction, but willbe-held b the spring. The force ofthe resistance 'o fered by the spring to turning of the nut on the bolt is increased in accordance with the principle on which the invention rests by havlng the parts so related that whenever a force tends to turn the nut, the resistance offered by the holding mechanism' will momentarily be a maximum. This additional resistance is secured by the tendency of the wire spring to coilmore tightly around the bolt at the instant the nut begins to turn. This coiling continues until the force of the grip isreleased by slippage of the trailing yend of the spring on the bolt. This condition is established whether or not the nut tends to turn in one direction or another and the actual resistance to turning canbe predetermined in any par.

ticular design.

In each instance heretofore described it is contemplated that the spring wire proper shall be provided with a leading engaging surface which is of relatively softer metal `than the threads of the bolt.v vlVhen .casehardened iron or tempered steel bolts are Vused phosphor bronze wire springs may be suitable. For non-tempered steel, iron or brass bolts a softer material must be interposed'between the springs-andthe threads -of the bolts, whether or not'the spring be of steel or phosphor bronze'.

Since the improved holding device has the characteristic of holding the nut against accidental movement on the bolt. by virtue Acf its contractive force, on the one hand, and yet permitting the nut to be applied to andre- 'moved from the bolt upon application of a predetermined .turning effort 1t becomes an important consideration to so design the .cooperating metal parts, in respect of their materials and strength as to insure ample holding capacity on vthe part of the spring withmined force is applied to the nut for turningl it on or off.

out inJury to the bolt threads and yet capacity as to the spring and nut for movement along the threads of the bolt when a predeter- This design further takes into .account the relationship of the positive releasmg devlces employed for moving the 'spring along the threads upon application of the said predetermined maximum turning effort to the nut.

It will be seen that the nut cannot be loosened by vibration, since any reverse move ment thereof causes a gripping of the spring.

` This enables the nut to be screwed on easily l only a predetermined extent.

In the improved construction the holding force results from the frictional resistanceL created by the contractive power of the spring and is increased when the end of the spring. is wrapped down further on the threads.

The new and important provision in the present case is that if this wrapping down has progressed to a certain point. it is positively stopped so that the holding force can be increased no further. This condition insures that a predetermined force` applied to the nut will bring about its turning and that such predetermined turning force will be impressed on the spring throughout its length. This is doubly important if the metal has corroded and the binding action between the springv and threads has become unnaturally strong. y v

Changes in cross-sectional form and dimensional relationship of parts have been illustrated herein in order to emphasize the range of modifications that may be employed without departing from the spirit'of the invention recited in the appended claims.

What l claim is i 1. A threaded nut, a threadedy bolt for said 'i nut, a holding device associated therewith comprising a coiled spring to grip the bolt thread by contraction when the nut and b6lt are threaded together, and a liner between the spring and the threads of the bolt having softer surfaces than the bolt thread.

2. A threaded nut, a threaded bolt for said nut, a holding deviceassociated therewith comprisingnJ hardened coiled spring to grip the bolt thread by contraction when' the nut and bolt are threaded together and a metal jacket encasing the spring and having a softer surface than the bolt thread.

3. A threaded'nut, a threaded bolt for said ico ini

nut, a holding device comprising.- al coiled itey tion, the other abutment being normally spaced a. predetermined distance from the other freeend of the spring but engageable therewith after movement of the nut a pre- 5 determined: distance in the reverse direction to cause the nut to turn the spring in unison therewith.

This ,specification signed this' 16th day of March, A. D. 1928. AUGUST SUNDH. 

